Manifolding device



Feb. 20, 1940. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Feb. 20, 1940. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1936 ,4 Shgets-Sheet 2 INVENI'OR Feb. 20, 1940. A. A. JOHNSON MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed March 16,1936 4 Sheets$heet 3 IN VENT OR Feb. 20, 1940.

A. A JOHNSON MANIFOLDING- DEVICE Filed March 16, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .L @wm All Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics MANIFOLD-INC: DEVICE Application March 16, 1936, Serial No. 69,047

27 Claims. (Cl. 282,21)

This invention relates to manifolding registers, of the type including a platen over which a plurality of record strips can be advanced formlength amounts at each operation of a feeding 5 means including upper and lower strip-engaging members customarily located intermediate the ends of the casing. r The general object of the invention is to provide a register wherein the top of the register can 10 can be in an ideal writing position, for instance, horizontal and close to the top of the register.

A permanently upstanding hood to cover and protect the overlying member of the feeding means, although heretofore deemed essential, is disadvantageous for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is detrimental to storageand packaging and shipping. Giving the feeding means a fixed location in the casing, and also a fixation of the platen in writing position once a strip passing over the same is engaged with the feeding means, have threaded through the register for advancement by the feeding means, is not necessary in order to provide a satisfactory operating autographic register. Conversely, the present invention contemplates that the platen and the feeding means can be relatively movable, whether it be the feeding means which is platen, or vice versa, while a strip is threaded through the register for advancement by the feeding means. In either case such a relative movement would be effected preparatory to a strip advancement, and it would be so effected that the relative disposition of the platen and the feeding means is varied to one such that a strip in passing over the platen while beingad vanced by the feeding means would be thus advanced while the platen is in strip-feeding relation to the feeding means, whether the platen be ahead of or beyond the feeding means in the direction of strip advancement.

ing means which is moved relative to the platen, such means would be elevated, and during its period of elevation, that is, during the period 2.1-

lotted for strip advancement, the protective hooding structure over the presser rollerwould be elevated above the top of the casing. But on lowering the feeding means after the strip adbe made flat, and at the same time the platen moved relative to the If it isthe feedvancement, which would set the registerto allow a set of forms then at rest on the platen or thereafter brought to rest thereon to be inscribed,

the top of the casing would again be made flat,

provided said hcoding structure was so formed, as it could Well be, to bring about thisresult.

One of the objects of the inventio-nis also to provide means operable from the exterior of the casing, and other than a part of or on the platen exposed through the writing opening, for shifting themovab-le platen back and forth between its two positions.

Another object is to provide, in combination with the means last referred to, means for holding the platen in its elevated or writing position while a set of forms is being inscribed and for holding the platen in its lowered position, which latter may be termed its feeding position, during a strip-advancing operation of the feeding means.

According to one now preferred way of carrying out the invention, the platen is the shifted part and, a platen-shifting meansis provided which operates to shift the platen from one of its appointed positions to the other thereof while operatively associated with strip-feed-controlling means incorporating not only strip-advancing means in the shape of roller and feed disks or equivalents but also two coadjuvants-"familiar' in the art, to wit, a means for locking the strip-adtermed a starter, results in shifting the platen 5' from feeding to-writing position, to allow a set of forms to be inscribed while on the platen with i the latter in writing position; and also one such that the platen is shifted again to feeding position incidental to initiation of operation of the strip-advancing means by manual operation of another actuator, as the. commonly employed strip-feeding crank, at the exterior of the casing.

According to another now preferred way of discussed, while the machine is idle. Here, too, a platen-shifting means can be operatively associated with the strip-feed-controlling means, and such operative connection can be associated with the strip-advancing means of said stripfeed-controlling means and also with the releasing means for the latter.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred forms of the invention wherein the writing platen is moved relative to the feeding means from a writing position to a different feeding position, and vice versa:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a register according to the invention and having a platen so movable.

Fig. 2 shows said register partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partially broken away detail plan view, showing the platen and a stripfeed-controlling means operatively connected thereto, with, however, the presser'roller omitted for clarification.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View, showing the platen in feeding position and all the parts of Fig. 3 as they become disposed at the conclusion of a strip advancement and as they remain while the machine is idle; the strip-advancing means included in the strip-feed-controlling means comprising a presser roller and feed disks now locked against a strip-advancing operation.

Fig. his a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the platen in writing position as the result of manually operating a releasing means for the lock last-mentioned, so that now a set of forms on the platen can be inscribed for subsequent advancement. I

Fig. 6 is also a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the strip-advancing means being operated with the platen again lowered to feeding position.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the register of Figure 1 equipped with another preferred form or platen-shift-controlling means and one wherein the platen is in an elevated writing position all the while the machine is idle.

Fig. 8 shows the parts of Figure l as disposed when the platen is lowered during strip-advancing operation'of the strip-advancing means.

Referring particularly to the exemplifying form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, a register is shown conventionally as including a casing 55 having a plane bottom Wall and plane end and side walls; and closed over when set for operation by a top including a top subdivision l6 carrying a writing opening Ill and hinged to the casing at 18. As this register is shown, it is provided with a supply compartment IQ for receiving the record strips; these strips being shown as stored in compartment l9 as a zigzag foldedstack or pile 20, wherein the strips are so interfolded at form-length intervals that extended between each two successive lines of fold, corresponding to the one indicated at 2|,

are a set of forms successive ones of which are to be brought to writing position on a platen 22 and after being there inscribed are further to.

be advanced to pass beyond the platen on each -erro11er 23 is fast. Thus on turning a crank 28 the strip-advancingmeans can be operated, that is, the presser roller and the feed disks can be rotated through a complete revolution of the latter to advance the strips a form-length amount through the zone of bite on the strips between the presser roller and the feed disks. Such bite in the case illustrated is a true bite and merely a frictional one; but for convenience this term is used herein broadly to designate any bite or equivalent feeding engagement of the record strips between overlying and underlying feeding elements for the record strips, as, for instance, that obtained when a so-called pin-wheel feed is employed. Strip-arresting form-uegistering apertures'or equivalents not shown are assumed to be carried by the strips at form-length intervals therealong; to cooperate with the strip-feeding means illustrated, and in a well known manner according to which strip advancement is arrested to halt a follower setof forms on the platen for the addition of writing to such forms when said apertures enter the points of bite between the presser roller and the feed disk. Hence, the feed disks 24 are here shown as carrying starter shoes 29, which during an earlier part of the revolution of the disks cooperate with the latter to engage solid portions of the strips beyond said apertures to advance the strips sufficiently to move the apertures beyond the points of said point of bite. The strip-advancing means just described is here shownas located intermediate the ends of the casing, although it need not be so located in carrying out the present invention; and the platen is here shown as located ahead of said advancing means, although it need not be so located in carrying out the present invention. With these instrumentalities arranged as illustrated, it is convenient to provide a re ceiving compartment 3|! forward of the advancing means,into which compartment the forms of the lowermost record strips are to be received and collected as indicated at 3|, as one set of forms after another on a plurality of record strips, after being brought to rest on the platen and there inscribed, are moved by the strip-advancing means to transport the forms of said set on the upper strips to tear-oif location; the underlying record strips being assisted in their passage into 'the receiving compartment 30 by a roller 32 rotated by a pinion 33 meshing with gear 26. This compartment 30 is covered in part by a fixed top subdivision 34, and in part by a door 35 hinged at 36.

The parts so far described are according to standard and approved practices in the art.

Referring now to the parts of Figures 1 to 6 i which illustrate the features of the present invention in the exemplifying form embodied therein showing these views, it will be noted that the casing top is shown asincluding a top subdivision overlying the strip-advancing means which is flush with the top subdivision beyond said means and with the top subdivision ahead of such means. In the present case, the top subdivision last-mentioned and also the top subdivision over the strip-advancing means are shown as parts of the top subdivision 15 carrying the writing til inclined deflector wall 39 carried by the top subdivision 34.

While a plurality of strips are being placed in the storage compartment and threaded through the register over the platen 22 and into engagement with the strip-advancing means, the top subdivision I6 is raised. But, all the while the register is operable following such a threading, the casing has its characteristic fiat top.

This flat top casing is made possible by lowering the strip-advancing means so that the presser roller is below said top. Here the fiat casing top is permanently flat all the while the machine is operable for strip advancement because the strip-advancing means is given a fixed location. However, relative movement between said means and the platen is provided for, here by pivotally mounting the platen as at 40. This pivotal mounting of the platen is such that it can be elevated as in Fig. 5, to writing position, or lowered as in Fig. 4, to feeding position. When feeding position of the platen, or a strip-feeding relation between the platen and the strip-advancing means, is referred to herein there is meant broadly a different position than the writing position of the platen, or a different relation between the platen and the feeding means than the relation of these parts when a set of forms on the platen'is to be inscribed, and one wherein the. platen is made more facilitative of eflicient and dependable stripadvancement or one only wherein practicable strip advancement is permitted.

The means for moving the platen from one position to the other and vice versa is here inclusire of operating means exterior to the casing, to wit, the crank 28, and a so-called starter or actuator for a releasing means for a locking means which becomes effective at the conclusion of each strip advancement by locking the feed disks at the conclusion of each revolution thereof.

Said starter is here shown as including an actuator in the form of a finger piece 4| at the exterior of the casing on a rock shaft 4|a extending transversely of the casing and rotated when said finger piece is pressed down to swing an arm 42 upwardly in order to release the feed disk locking means; this arm at its free end carrying a claw 43 which with a stud 44 offset from a plate 45 fixed on shaft 25 forms the locking means for the feed disks 24. Said arm 42 is looseon the rock shaft 4| a, but is moved upwardly as just described by the engagement of a finger 46 fixed on said rock shaft 4|a with a pin 41 o the arm 42. 1

In order to cause the operation of such a starter to elevate the platen 22 to writing position, the following parts are provided. Fast on a rock shaft 48 is an upstanding arm 49, under some restraint because of a light retractil'e coil spring 43a, and shaped at its top or free end to present a ledge-receptor or keeper 50 for one end of a rod 5| extended between a pair of arms 52 fixed on rock shaft am.

This rod 5| is out of its keeper 50, and the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 4, following the conclusion of a strip advancement and before the finger piece 4| is depressed. Then the platen is inclined downwardly toward the bite of the strip-advancing means so as to be in stripfeeding position; the platen dropping to this position by its own weight and being. retained in this position by support of. its under surface on rod 5|.

When, however, the finger piece is depressed to release the claw 43 from the stud 44, this freeing the feed disks 24 for rotation by the crank 28, the platen elevating rod 5| is raised and entered in its keeper 5|! thereby throwing the platen to writing position as shown in Fig. 5 and holding it in that position so that a set of forms thereon can be inscribed while horizontally supported at i the top of the casing. While the platen is thus held elevated the finger 46 holds the claw 43 above and out of engagement with the pin 44.

In order to cause subsequent turning of the crank 28 to lower the platen to feeding position and then to allow the claw 43 to drop, the following parts are provided. Fixed on the same rock shaft 48 which carries the arm 49 is a trip finger 53 and on the plate 45 is a projection in the shape of a stud 54 for tripping said finger. On first turning the crank 28 to rotate the said disks 24 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6, stud 54 engages the trip finger 53, as shown in Fig. 5, and on further turning the crank this stud rocks the arm 49 sufficiently in a clockwise direction against the spring 49a to free the rod 5| from its keeper 50 at the top of arm 49 and curved face 49 of said arm. Thereupon, the

platen drops to its feeding position, and the parts become disposed as in Fig. 6. Note that the claw is now also dropped. They remain so disposed until one revolution of the feed disks 24- is com pleted, whereupon they become disposed as in Fig. 4, where the locking means for the feed disks becomes effective by engagement of the claw 43 with the stud 44. remains in its feeding position.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention just described is briefly summarized as follows: I

With the strips engaged with the strip-advancing means comprising roller 23 and feed disks 34 as shown in Fig. 2, the register is ready for operation as and when desired, and during all this period of operability the top of the casing is permanently maintained flat and the platen remains lowered in feeding position. The strip-advancing means is now locked at 4344 as shown in Fig. 3.

Whenever it is desired to inscribe a set of forms on the platen and advance such set to send the form of the lowermost strip to the receiving compartment 30 and the forms on the overlying strips to the tear-off location, the finger piece 4| is depressed to release the lock for the disks 24, thus bringing the parts 43 and 44 to the relation shown in Fig. 5. coincidentally with such release, the platen is lifted to writing position and there held by the detent means Elle-5|, as also shown in Fig. 5.

When the desired writing has been performed on the forms. now on the elevated platen, the operator merely starts turning the crank 28 to rotate the feed disks 24. in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6.

The first thing that happens is the stud 54 arrives at the position marked 54a in Fig. 6 and releases the detent means ill-5i so that the platen drops to feeding position. Simultaneously, the claw 43 also drops as shown in Fig.6, to reestablish the lock 4344. The starter shoes 29 are so placed on the disks 24 that strip ad vancement isdeferred until the platen has first dropped to feeding position. Following such dropping of the platen, however, said shoes initiate strip advancement and restore solid portions The platen, it will be noted,

on the strips to the points of bite between the roller 23 and disks 24,

As the parts are shown in Fig. 6, the stud 54 has arrived at a location 5417, and the strips are now being advanced a form-length by conjoint action of the roller and feed disks.

When the feed disks have completed a full revolution, by which time the strips have been advanced a form-length amount, the pin 44 again is engaged by the claw 43 to lock the disks against another revolution untilthe finger piece 45 has again been depressed.

An advantage of the embodiment of the present invention such as above described, wherein the platen is moved back and forth between writing and feeding positions, and wherein the platen remains in feeding position all the while the machine is idle, is that the path of travel of the strips from the delivery end of the strip to the strip-advancing means is changed in direction only while the platen is elevated for the short period of time required to inscribe a set of forms, and therefore any chance whatever of imparting even a slight curling tendency to a set of forms is avoided.

Referring non/particularly to the exemplifying form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the parts numbered I6, ll, [9, 22, 23, 24, 25, 21, 28, 29 and 48 in these views correspond, intrinsicately and relative to coaction with each other,

to the similarly numbered parts in Figures 1 to 6. Thus, here also the flat top casing is made possible by lowering the strip-advancing means so that the presser roller 23 is below said top, and here also the flat casing top is permanently fiat all the while the machine is operable for strip advancement because the strip-advancing means is given a fixed location. In other words, relative movement between said. means and the platen 22 is here also provided for by pivotally mounting the platen.

The means for moving the platen from one position to the other and vice versa is also here inclusive of operating means exterior to the casing, to wit, the crank 28, and a starter. This starter as shown includes a finger piece 60.

The platen moving means shown in Figs. 7 and 8 includes a circular plate 6! at one side of the register and fixed on the shaft which carries the feed disks 2 1. Said plate is mutilated to provide a recess 62 carrying what may be termed a cam portion 63. The diameter of the plate 6| is less than that of the feed disks 24, to keep the plate always out of contact with a strip (not shown) while the same is being fed through the machine. Finger piece (ill, at the exterior of the casing, is on the free end of an arm 64 fixed on a rock shaft 65 extending across the machine and having alignedly fixed thereon, below opposite sides of the platen, the lower links 556 of a pair of toggles, the upper links 6''! of which toggles are pivotally connected to the underside of the platen at iii. The upper and lower links of each toggle are pivotally interconnected by being loosely sleeved about a transverse rod 69 joining the toggles and establishing a sturdy toggle frame, A dog it is also loose on said rod 69, and rockable thereon in the plane of the plate 6], within the limits allowed by coaction between a pin H on the seen toggle link 66 and a fork 72 carried by dog 10. The link 66 last referred to has a depending extension 13 for coaction with a fixed stop 14; the toggle frame being urged to the condition shown in Fig. .7 to cause said extension to abut said stop, by a retractile spring 15.

Operation After a full revolution of the feeding disks 24 by turning of the handle 28 for advancing the record strips 2. form-length amount, the parts, then brought to the condition shown in Fig. 7, remain in that position all the while the machine thereafter remains idle. Now the toggles are thrown slightly to the left beyond dead center, and cannot further collapse in that direction due to engagement of the extension 13 with the stop 14. Thus a set of strip-carried forms now on the platen is firmly supported by the platen immediately below the writing opening [1. At the same time, the feed disks are locked against rotation by the engagement of the dog 10 with the recess 62.

After the forms have been inscribed, a depression of the finger piece 6!! drops the platen to feeding position by collapsing the toggle toward the right, as shown in Fig. 8. This withdraws the dog 10 from the recess 62, and as soon as such withdrawal is completed the dog drops by its own weight to the position shown in Fig. 8. The degree of such drop, however, is limited to that shown in Fig. 8 by the pin and fork connection II-42.

Now the crank 28 can be turned to rotate the disks 24 in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 8; the starter shoes 29 first coacting with the roller 23 to grip and advance the strips until they can be advanced at the bite between said roller and the feed disks, and thereafter, during the completion of a full revolution by said disks, the strips are advanced by the disks and the roller the balance of a form-length-amount. The working peripheries of the feed disks are such that during the concluding part of a revolution thereof, and after the completion of strip advancement, that part of the mouth of the recess 62 adjacent to the wall 62a thereof arrives opposite the dog 10 and the dog is reinserted in the recess by the spring 15, During a further rotation of the disks, the cam portion 63 of the recess acts on the dog to rearrange the toggles as shown in Fig. 7, and, just as the feed disks complete their revolution, to restore the platen to writing position and to lock the feed disks against further rotation.

An advantage of an embodiment of the invention such as just above described, wherein the platen is moved back and forth between writing and feeding positions and wherein the platen remains in writing position all the while the machine is idle, is that the platen closes the top'of the machine at the writing opening at all times except when the platen is lowered for a strip advancement operation by the feeding means.

being relatively movable within the casingpand means for effecting a relative movement between the feeding means and the platen to varythe inclination of a strip-guiding surface of the platen relative to a horizontal plane containing the bite of the two members of the feeding means.

nection between means and said means for effectinga relative,

movement between the strip-feeding means and the platen, whereby predeterminedly duringoperation of said stripeieed-controlling means said movement-effecting means is operated.

3. The register defined in claim 1, wherein the same includes means for locking said strip-feeding means; means for releasing said locking means; and an operative connection between said releasing means and said means for effecting arelative movement between the strip=feeding means and the platen whereby manual operation of one of the two means last-mentioned causes operation of the other. i 4, In a manifolding register, the combination of a casing; record strip feeding means therein including overlying and underlying strip-engaging members establishing a strip-advancing bit-e therebetween, said overlying member being wholly below the casing; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation ofthe feeding means and movably mounted for varying the approach of the strip toward said bite; and means for moving the platen to vary such approach by downward inclination thereof toward said bite and operable only while the feeding means is idle relative to strip advancement.

5. In a manifolding register, the combination of a casing; record strip feeding means therein including overlying and underlying strip-en gaging members establishing a strip advancing bite therebetween, said overlying member being whollybelow the casing; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and movably mounted for varying the approach of the strip toward said bite; means for moving the platen toward and away from a position for bettering such approach for strip ad vancement by said members; and means for precluding either such operation of said moving means except when the feeding means is idle her wholly below the general plane: of the top ,erable in timed relation with relative to strip advancement. l

G. In a manifolding register, the combination of manually operable means for allowing and effecting the advancement of a record strip through the register over a form-length extent, said means including as a strip-advance-elfecting ,means overlying and underlying strip-en-,

members; a casing in which said members located to dispose the overlying meme of he casing; a platen near such casingtop over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and movable within the casing for varying thefeeding of the strip toward said bite; and means for thus moving the platen opwherein a strip thereon is directed to the means firstmeans-for moving the platen to its last-menmeans operatively connected to the feeding tioned position incidental to the starting of a feeding operation and for moving the platen to its first mentioned position incidental to the conclusion of a feeding operation.

8. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including underlying and overlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which said feeding means is housed with said overlying member wholly below the general plane of the top of the casing; means for setting the feeding means for a strip-advancing operation; a platen over which a strip is advanced during operation of the feeding means, said platen pivotally mounted in the casing and swingable back and forth between an elevated writing position and an inclined position wherein the platen better guides a strip toward the strip-engaging bite between said members; and means operatively connected to one of the setting and feeding means for automatically insuring that the platen,

is in its said inclined position before the start of a strip-feeding operation;

9. In a manifolding register,. a pivotally mounted platen; feeding means for advancing a strip over said platen and including annular members between the bite of which said strip is engaged during advancement thereof; a casing below the general plane of the top of which said overlying member is wholly located; means for holding the platen in a writing position with its strip-delivery end above said bite between successive operations of the feeding means; and means operable preliminary to advancement of a strip by the feeding means for rocking the platen downwardly on its pivotto lower said end to dispose the platen in another position than the ,writing position and one more facilitative of strip advancement by the feeding means.

10. In a manifolding register, strip-advancing means including overlying and underlying members having a strip-engaging bite; and a platen movable back and forth between an upper writ ing position and a different and lower position bite substantially tangentially. r i 11. In a manifolding register, a casing; stripfeeding means including underlying and overlying rotary strip-engaging members, said overlying member being located wholly below the general plane of the top of the casing; "rotating means therefor-including a manually operated actuat r; latch means for halting rotation of said members at the conclusion of the stripfeeding operation; a manually operablereleas ing means for said latch; a pivotally mounted platen, said casinghaving awriting opening above the platen, the strip-engaging bite of said members below the general plane of the top of the casing; a platen overwhich a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen for movement toward and away from the top of the casing for varying enter said thedirection of approach of a strip toward the bite between the feeding members while such strip is on the platen and extended between said members, whereby when the platen is at the end of its movementtoward the top of the casing the platen is in a good writing position and when the platen is at the end of its movement away from the top of the casing the platen is agood strip-advancing position, and means op- .erable from the exterior of the casing for thus moving the platen.

13. In a manifolding register, strip-advancing means; a platen over which a strip is extended while in engagement with the advancing means; means for effecting a relative movement between the advancing means and the platen to vary the relation of the platen to the advancing means in regard to directing the strip in more emcient or less efficient feeding direction relative to the advancing means; means for setting the advancing means for strip advancement; and means operating in timed relation with the setting means to vary the relation of the platen to the advancing means.

I 14-. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including overlying and underlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which the feeding means is placed to position the strip-engaging bite of said mem- 1 bers below the general plane of the top of the casing; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen for movement within the casing for varying the direction of approach toward said bite of a strip while such strip is on the platen and extended "between said members; means for thus moving the platen; and means for operating the means last-mentioned rendered operative by operation of the feeding means.

15. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including overlying and underlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which the feeding means is placed toposition the strip-engaging bite of said members below the general plane of the top of the casing;

a'platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen for movement within the casing for varying the direction of approach toward said bite of a strip while such strip is on the platen and extended between said members; means for thus moving the platen; and means for operating the means last-mentioned held inoperative during operation of the feeding meansjwhile strip advancement is being eifected thereby.

-16. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including over-' lying and underlying strip-engaging members;

,a casing in which the feeding means is placed to position the strip-engaging bite of said members below the general plane of the top of the casing; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen for movement within the casing for varying the direction of approach toward said bite of a strip while such strip is on the platen and extended between said members; means for thus moving the platen; means for holding the feeding means inoperable for strip advancement after a previous strip advancement and including means for holding the platen-moving means inoperative; and means for releasing the feeding means for a subsequent strip advancement and including means for operating the platen-moving means. i

17'. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including overlying and underlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which the feeding means is placed to position the strip-engaging bite of said membersbelow the general plane of the top of the casing; a platen over which a strip is advane-ed by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen forv movement within the casing for varying the direction of approach toward saidbite of a strip while such strip is on the platen and extended between said members; means for thus moving the platen; means for holding the feeding means inoperable for strip advancement after a previous: strip advancement and including means for holding the platen-moving means inoperative; and means for releasing the feeding means for a subsequent strip advancement and including means whereby the platen-moving means maybe operated.

18. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feedingmeans including overlying and underlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which the feeding means is placed to position the strip-engaging bite of said members below the general plane of the stop of the casing; a'platen over which a strip is advanced;

by operation of the feeding means; means mounting the platen for movementwithin the casing for varying the direction of approach toward said bite of a strip while such strip is on theplaten and extended between said members; means for thus moving the platen; means for holding the feeding means'inoperable for strip advancement after a previous strip advancement "and including means for holding the platenmoving means inoperative; and means for'releasing-the feeding means for a subsequent strip advancement and including means for setting the platen-moving'means for automatic operation bythe feeding means in timed relation to the operation of said feeding means.

19. In a manifolding register, the combination advancing means incorporating overlying and underlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which said members are located to dispose the strip-engaging bite thereof below the general plane of the top of the casing; a platen near such casing top over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and movable within the casing for varying the feeding of the strip toward said bite; and means for thus moving the platen automatically operated during operation of the meansfirst-mentioned.

21. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including underlyingand overlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which said feeding means is housed: a platen near the top of the casing and over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means, said platen being movable in the casing from an elevated writing position to a less elevated position wherein the platen better guides 25. In a manifolding register, the combination a strip toward the strip-engaging bite between said members, and vice versa; strip-feed-halting means operable to release said feeding means; and means operably connected to said halting means for moving the platen to its less elevated position.

22. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including underlying and overlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which said feeding means is housed; a platen near the top of the casing and over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means, said platen being movable in the casing from an elevated writing position to a less elevated position wherein the platen better guides a strip toward the strip-engaging bite between said members, and vice versa; stripfeed-halting means operable to release said feeding means; means operably connected to said halting means for moving the platen to its less elevated position; and means operated by the feeding means for moving the platen to its said writing position. 23. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means adapted at each operation thereof to advance a strip a form-length amount; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and mounted for movement from a more efficient to a less efficient position relative to strip feeding and vice versa; and means operatively connected to the feeding means for moving the platen to its more efficient position incidental to the starting of a feeding operation.

24. In a manifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means adapted at each operation thereof to advance a strip a form-length amount; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and mounted for movement from a more efficient to a less efiicient position relative to strip feeding and vice versa; and means operatively connected to the feeding means for moving the platen to its more eiiicient position incidental to the starting of a feeding operation and for moving the platen to its less efficient position incidental to the conclusion of a feeding operation.

of record strip feeding means adapted at each operation thereof to advance a strip a form-length amount; a platen over which a strip is advanced by operation of the feeding means and mounted for movement from a more eficient to a less Iefficient position relative to strip feeding and vice versa; means operatively connected to the feeding means for moving the platen to its more efficient position incidental to the starting of a feeding operation and for moving the platen to its less efficient position; and means for moving the platen only while the feeding means is idle for strip advancement between successive strip advancements.

26. In a rnanifolding register, the combination of record strip feeding means including underlyand overlying strip-engaging members; a casing in which said feeding means is housed; means for setting the feeding means for a strip-advancing operation; a platen over which a strip is advanced during operation of the feeding means, said platen pivotally mounted in the casing and swingable back and forth between an elevated and means controlled by both the means last mentioned for moving the platen back and forth between said writing position and another and lower position which is more eflicient for strip guidance during strip advancement than the writing position.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSCN. 

